Silver Speculators Stand Firm Despite Poor Price Action

Last week I registered my surprise at silver speculators rushing to increase net long contracts to near multi-year highs. This move happened ahead of what was expected to be a parade of Fed-speak clearing the path for a March rate hike. The surge stood out even more given gold’s surge did not bring net long … Read more

Above the 40 (March 10, 2017) – A Stock Market Redressing Itself for A Meeting with the Fed

AT40 = 42.1% of stocks are trading above their respective 40-day moving averages (DMAs) AT200 = 59.1% of stocks are trading above their respective 200DMAs VIX = 11.7 (volatility index) Short-term Trading Call: neutral Commentary The February U.S. jobs report catalyzed the next swing in the stock market’s bear-bull knife fight. I noted in my … Read more

Above the 40 (March 7, 2017) – A Growing Undertow for the Stock Market

AT40 = 48.9% of stocks are trading above their respective 40-day moving averages (DMAs) AT200 = 63.5% of stocks are trading above their respective 200DMAs VIX = 11.5 (volatility index) Short-term Trading Call: neutral Commentary Market weakness continued to grow today even as the major indices barely notched losses on the day. AT40 (T2108), the … Read more

Above the 40 (March 6, 2017) – SNAP to Reality

AT40 = 52.7% of stocks are trading above their respective 40-day moving averages (DMAs) AT200 = 65.2% of stocks are trading above their respective 200DMAs VIX = 11.2 (volatility index) Short-term Trading Call: neutral Commentary Here we go again. Divergence is rearing its head again and bringing a dose of reality to the setup for … Read more

Silver Speculators Slam Into Fed’s Plan for A March Rate Hike

The iShares Silver Trust (SLV) made a major peak last summer when it hit a 2-year high. The rally year-to-date seemed to come to an abrupt end when SLV plunged through support at its 200-day moving average (DMA) and its 20DMA uptrend. Source: FreeStockCharts.com However, don’t tell speculators any sad tales about silver. Speculators increased … Read more

Above the 40 (March 3, 2017) – The S&P 500 Marches Confidently Toward the Next Rate Hike

AT40 = 57.7% of stocks are trading above their respective 40-day moving averages (DMAs) AT200 = 67.0% of stocks are trading above their respective 200DMAs VIX = 11.0 (volatility index) Short-term Trading Call: neutral Commentary So March it is then! In reaction to U.S. Federal Reserve Chair Janet Yellen’s speech at The Executives’ Club of … Read more

Above the 40 (February 27, 2017) – The S&P 500 Coiled In Anticipation

AT40 Status: 63.5% of stocks are trading above their respective 40-day moving averages (DMAs) AT200 Status: 70.8% of stocks are trading above their respective 200DMAs VIX Status: 12.1 (volatility index) Short-term Trading Call: neutral Commentary In my last “Above the 40” post, I noted that the rejection of AT40 (T2108), the percentage of stocks trading … Read more

Above the 40 (February 22, 2017) – The S&P 500 Still Finds Overbought Elusive

AT40 Status: 65.6% of stocks are trading above their respective 40-day moving averages (DMAs) AT200 Status: 70.2% of stocks are trading above their respective 200DMAs VIX Status: 11.7 (volatility index) Short-term Trading Call: neutral Commentary The struggle for the overbought threshold continues. AT40 (T2108), the percentage of stocks trading above their respective 40-day moving averages … Read more

The U.S. Dollar Fails To Benefit From Expectations for An Earlier Fed Rate Hike

Perhaps the shift was not large enough. Perhaps it was the magnetism of the 50-day moving average (DMA). After the Federal Reserve released the minutes from its last meeting on monetary policy, the U.S. dollar index (DXY0) promptly weakened. The dollar closed the day marginally lower after trading for a small gain in the morning. … Read more

Another Chicken Run for Restaurant Brands With El Pollo Loco Rumors

A little over two years ago, El Pollo Loco Holdings (LOCO), a quick serve restaurant that “offers individual and family-sized chicken meals, Mexican-inspired entrees, sides, and, alternative proteins,” was mentioned as a potential acquisition target of Jollibee Foods Corp, the largest fast food franchisor in the Philippines. LOCO closed that day at $26.25 and with … Read more